Machine for driving tie-plates



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. DOWE.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING TIE PLATES.

No. 594,731. Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

wit-wease k (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. W. DOWE. v

MACHINE FOR DRIVING TIE PLATES.

No. 594,731. Patented Nov 30, 1897.

I P Z l qmmeo as gWWM/boz UNITED STATES.

GEORGE W. DOWVE, OF OARBONDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR DRIVING TIE-PLATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,731, dated November.30, 1897.

Application filed October 8, 189 '7- Serial No. 654,574. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. DOWE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oarbondale, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Driving Tie-Plates, of which the following is aspecification.

My presentinvention pertains to a machine for driving tie-plates, theconstruction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aperspective view of the machine, and Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view.

Many millions of tie-plates are now used in the construction of themodern railway-bed, and most of them, if not all, have heretofore beendriven by hand.

The object of my invention is to construct a machine which will drivethe plates quickly and accurately, and thus do away with so much manuallabor at a great saving of time.

With this end in view I have designed and constructed the machine shownin the annexed drawings, in which A designates the platform of themachine, mounted upon suitable wheels B, placed upon the axles atstandard gage or at any gage desired. Extending upwardly from oppositesides of the platform in line with the tracks upon which the machine ismounted are vertical columns 0, preferably composed of twobeams D,connected at their upper ends and to each other by cross-heads E, saidheads being connected by a cross-brace F. At a point intermediate theplatform and the upper ends of the columns cross-braces F F areprovided. Suitable lateral braces G are also employed, said braces beingsecured to the ends of the platform, as shown in Fig. 1. Between thebeams D there is mounted a weight H, designed to be raised and to bedropped from its raised position, each weight being provided with an eyeI in its upper end. Upon the cross-braces F F there is mounted an axle Jcarrying at one end a small pinion K and upon its opposite end cranks L.Meshing with said pinion K upon its opposite sides are larger gears M M,suitable windingdrums N N being secured upon the axes of said gears M M.Ropes or cables 0 pass from these drums up over pulley P, secured to thecross-headsE at the upper end of the columns 0, and to the opposite endsof the ropes or cables are secured hooks Q. These hooks, as shown inFig. 1, are designed to engage the eyes I and -to elevate the weightswhen proper motion is imparted to'the cranks L. In each column near itsupper end there is placed a cross-rod R, the location of the rod beingsuch that as the hook and its attached weight are elevated the hook willcome in contact with the rod and its long end be held against anyfurther upward movement,while the short end is elevated to that pointwhere the eye will become disengaged and the weight allowed to fall. Tothe outer or long end of the hook is attached a cord or rope S, by whichthe hooks may be drawn down ready to be again engaged with the weights.Openings T are also formed in the columns, and through said openingsthere may be inserted a bar or rod for the purpose of holding theweights in an elevated position should it be so desired when moving themachine from one point to another. The weights are designed toactdirectly upon anvils U of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Theseanvils comprise two legs V, connected at their upper end, designed tostraddle the rails and bear upon the upper face of the tie-plate, asclearly indicated in both figures. Extending from each side of theanvils are pins or projections W, designed to be engaged by a swingingcradle when it is desred to elevate the anvil and the machine is to bemoved. This cradle comprises two horizontal side bars a, connected attheir ends by bails b, the ends of the bars being seated and fastened inthe upturned ends of the bails. Ropes or cables c,-conne'cted to thebails, pass up back of rollers d and are connected to a cross-shaft e.Said shaft is provided with a hand-wheel.

f and with a pawl and detent to hold the shaft against rotation when theanvil is elevated.

The parts, as shown in the drawings, are in position ready todrive theplates upon each end of a tie. It will be noted that the anvils havebeen lowered and rest squarely upon the tie-plate and the cradles havebeen dropped down to such an extent that they are clear of the pins orprojections W. WVhen thus arranged, the weights are permitted to fallICC either by turning the crank and bringing the hooks into contact withthe cross bars or rods R, thus releasing them, or by pulling down uponthe rope S. The weights descend and hitting the anvils drive the platestruly and squarely into proper position. The hooks are then drawn downand the weights elevated, as are also the anvils, this latter operationbeing accomplished by manipulating the hand-wheels f, the bars a comingup beneath the pins WV, lifting the anvils clear of the tie-plate. Themachine is then moved onto the next tie, where the plates are or havebeen inserted, and the operation of driving is repeated.

It will be readily seen that the machine is simple in construction andeasy of manipulation, and from actual use it has been found highlyefficient and rapid in its operation.

The plates are set evenly upon each side, so that the rail has a firmand equal bearing thereon at all points.

It is manifest that the construction may be varied without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire tolimit myself to the exact details as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a machine fordriving tie-plates, the combination of a frame; aweight; means forelevating and releasing the weight; an anvil; and means carried by theframe independent of the weight for raising and lowering the anvil.

2. In a machine for driving tie-plates, the combination of a frame; aweight; means for elevating and releasing the weight; an anvil; and acradle suspended from the frame designed to come into contact with theanvil and raise the same as the cradle is elevated.

3. In a machine for driving tie-plates, the combination of a frame; aweight; means for elevating and releasing the weight; an anvil; a cradlesuspended from the frame means for raising and lowering the cradle; andmeans for connecting the anvil and cradle as the cradle is elevated.

4.. In a machine for driving tie-plates, the combination of a frame;columns extending therefrom; weights mounted in the columns; means forelevating and releasing said weights; cradles suspended from the framebeneath the columns; means for raising and lowering the cradles; andanvils carried by the cradles.

5. In a machine for driving tie-plates, the

combination of a frame; columns extending up therefrom; weights mountedin the columns; means for elevating and releasing said weights; cradlessuspended from the frame beneath the columns; means for raising andlowering the cradles; and anvils carried by the cradles,the anvils beingprovided with depending legs and means to engage the cradle.

6. In a machine for driving tie-plates, the combination of a portableframe; columns extending up therefrom; weights mounted in the columns;means for elevating and releasing the said weights; cradles suspendedfrom the frame beneath the columns, said cradles comprising thehorizontal bars a connected at their ends by bails 1?; cables or ropesconnected to said bails and extending up to and connected with across-shaft c; and an anvil with pins or projections extending from thesides thereof designed to be engaged by the cross-bars when the cradleis elevated.

7. In a machine for driving tie-plates, the combination of a portableframe; columns extending up therefrom; cross-braces connecting saidcolumns; a small pinion mounted upon said cross-braces; gears M Mmeshing with said pinion; drums connected to said gears; ropes or cablespassing around said drums and up to the upper end of the columns; hookscarried by the ends of the cables and designed to engage the weights;cradles suspended from the frame beneath the columns, said cradlescromprising the horizontal bars a connected at their ends by bails 1);cables or ropes connected to said bails and extending up to andconnected with a cross-shaft c; and an anvil with pins or projectionsextending from the sides thereof designed to be engaged by thecross-bars when the cradle is elevated.

8. An anvil for driving tie-plates, comprising two legs connected attheir upper ends, and lifting-pins extending from each side of the anvilon opposite sides of the legs, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

9. In a tie-plate driver, the combination of a portable frame; a cradlesuspended therefrom; means for raising and lowering said cradle; and ananvil carried by the cradle.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE W. DOWE.

Witnesses:

JOHN MooN, W. R. BAKER.

